Gateman, 72 jailed for defiling girl, 7

A brother of the survivor sent her on an errand on this day and when she passed and greeted the defendant, Jackson, he dragged her inside the room and she shouted but he used his handkerchief to cover her mouth

Admin I MONDAY, July 08, 2024

 

IKEJA, Lagos – A Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court today sentenced a 72-year-old gateman, David Jackson to life imprisonment for defiling  his neighbour’s daughter, a 7-year-old girl.

Justice Abiola Soladoye held that the survivor was seven year old at the time of the incident but has turned eight when she testified before the court and identified the Jackson as a gateman in one of the houses on her street.

“A brother of the survivor sent her on an errand on this day and when she passed and greeted the defendant, Jackson, he dragged her inside the room and she shouted but he used his handkerchief to cover her mouth.

“The testimony of the survivor was clear, consistent and coherent under cross-examination.

“The second prosecution witness was a teacher who identified that the survivor was her student and she testified that one of her classmate had reported her that the survivor was not feeling well and she was walking in a funny way.

“The teacher, in her evidence, said she made an inquiry and discovered that the survivor was complaining of pains on her private part and that someone has sexually assaulted her.”

Sholadoye also said that the teacher invited the parents of the survivor but they did not come around, hence she reported the case and the survivor was referred to Mirabel Medical Centre in Ikeja and the medical report from the center was forwarded to the police.

The court, in its judgment also held that the testimony of the survivor’s father was credible and was also corroborated with the evidence of the other two prosecution witnesses.

The judge held that attempts of the convict to shy away from the charge did not hold waters.

She said: ” The father of the survivor who testified identified the defendant as a security guard around his neighborhood and he he was with his wife, who was ill in the hospital when the incident happened.

“The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were credible, convincing, compelling and the prosecution proved the case of defilement against the defendant.

“First, the survivor was a child as she came to the court to testify, secondly the defendant had sexual intercourse with her and there was no consent as the survivor is a minor”

“The defendant is consequently found guilty as charged for defilement of a 7-year old child contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state 2015 and he is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.”

The judge also ordered that the name of the convict be registered in the Sexual Offences Register as maintained by Lagos State Government.

The state counsel, Ms Abimbola Abolade called three witnesses while the convict testified as a sole witness.

The prosecutor submitted that the convict committed the offence May 16 2022 on Oyedele Close, Ojodu, Berger in Lagos.